5:07 am PT, Monday, May 22, 2006
Concerns Grow About Off-Reservation Indian Gambling, Says Oregon Congressman

Washington, D.C. - Recently, in the U.S. House of Representatives, concerns about the proliferation of off-reservation Indian gambling casinos bubbled to the surface. During debate of a bill that funds the U.S. Department of the Interior, the federal agency that oversees the establishment of Indian gambling casinos, Representative Charles Dent (R-PA) introduced an amendment to prevent any new off-reservation Indian gambling casinos.

Congressman David Wu worked with Congressman Dent on the amendment to protect the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. In the floor discussion, Congressman Wu said, "It is wrong to build a 600,000 square foot casino drawing 3 million people and 1 million additional cars into the Columbia River Gorge."

Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA), who has jurisdiction of this issue, committed to directly address the concerns raised by the amendment in other pending legislation rather than in today's Interior funding bill. Congressman Dent then withdrew the amendment.

Following the floor discussion Congressman Wu said, "My concerns are focused strictly on the Columbia River Gorge, the crown jewel of Oregon's natural heritage. I am glad that Chairman Pombo has taken a serious interest in this issue."

To contact Congressman Wu, go to http://www.house.gov/wu/contact.htm
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